The Heroes Highway Ride, the Dream Ride for Larry McKenzie and so many more great events this weekend

From Coast to Coast to Coast, the 2013 riding season appears to have finally arrived and the events calendars at BeltDriveBetty.com are filled with hundreds and hundreds of great events to attend.

My home town of Redwater AB has the Ride for Hunger happening, my friends of the Alberta Lone Wolves are hosting Larry's Dream Ride - Larry AKA Loopy is dying of cancer and his wish was to ride with at least 1,000 other riders at least once in his life...I am attending the Heroes Highway Ride and Rally leaving from Whitby ON and heading to Trenton to pay tribute to our troops.

I would have loved to ride with Loopy but was already committed to the HHR when we got the news about Loopy's cancer. I pray there are well over 1,000 bikes that show up for this wonderful man.  Love you Loopy!!!!

The Heroes Highway Ride & Rally is the largest event of it's kind in Canada. It's a free ride meant to demonstrate our support of our troops and veterans and their families.

These people routinely put their lives on hold and on the line to defend the interests of our country and to protect others around the world who are not able to defend themselves, and their families sacrifice as much and sometimes more.

This year's HHR is being attended by Veterans advocate and SISIP class action hero Dennis Manuge who will be there supporting Medric Cousineau and Thai of Paws Fur Thoughts and the Long Walk to Sanity. You can buy the Long Walk to Sanity Dog Tags to support Medric's cause at the HHR - just look for the Mark Mullen/Belt Drive Betty/Paws Fur Thoughts Booth!

Artist Mark Mullen and his mom Kristina Toomey will be on hand with Mark's latest creation a portrait of Duck Dynasty's stars  Si and Phil (Below).  All the money raised from the tickets sold on this piece of art goes to Paws Fur Thoughts towards the purchase of a service dog. Draw happens during the Hillbilly Scavenger Hunt which will also be donating to Paws Fur Thought!

There will be families of fallen soldiers being honoured, silver cross moms that will be there to heal, to celebrate the lives of their children. The Portraits of Honour created by Dave Sopha will be there for you to see and pay tribute to the fallen of the Afghan mission. There will be military displays, guest speakers and all sorts of activities to take in.

Trapper Can of the C.A.V. will be in attendance and if you have never heard this man speak, you will be in for a treat!

Riders will be able to take in the Afghan Repatriation Memorial - meet our serving troops, meet some of our veterans and celebrate the lives and sacrifices made by the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.  If you can attend - rain or shine - you will not be disappointed....even in the driving rain the military is out in full force showing their appreciation of our support - it is an utterly amazing experience that does so much for so many.

Please come out to the HHR and show our troops and veterans that we appreciate them and if you can't attend, you can support the HHR and the charities it supports by bidding here on the amazing Afghan you see below - the winning bidder pays the shipping...Bidding ends at midnight tonight Alberta Time.


Visit the HHR's Facebook Page for all of the meet up points to ride into Trenton under escort.

That's it from me for today - a ton to do to get ready to film and report from the HHR...
No matter which event, what cause or what destination you are riding to this weekend, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you...

Be blessed and stay safe...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider.

The MCC & the CMA say NO BOOZE for Motorcyclists

The Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada and the Canadian Motorcycle Association have made a joint statement declaring that they are the voice of 85,000 Canadian riders and they say a ZERO Blood Alcohol Content initiative for motorcyclists would be supported by all of their riders.

I am beginning to see a familiar pattern when it comes to the Moped Motorcycle Industry Council (MMIC) and the Motorcyclist Confederation of Canada (MCC).  I guess it shouldn't surprise me because the MCC is supported financially by the manufacturers and it appears that yet again, they are working towards the discrimination of riders.  Remember that the MMIC are the people who brought us the J2825 Motorcycle noise Test from the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).

I do not understand what they are doing or why.
Their vision appears to be so one tracked and it is beginning to look like they are trying to make a name for themselves, although I am not quite sure what ind of name to give them.

If it is NOT ok for me to have a glass of wine with supper and get on my motorcycle to ride to my motel when I am on holiday, then why is it ok for me to have a glass of wine with my supper and get in my car to drive home?

Impaired judgement is impaired judgement.

If I am not competent to ride a motorcycle then I am not competent to dive a motor vehicle, period.

Why this distinction by the MCC?
If you are a member of the MCC or the CMA, did you agree to the statement as an individual?

Why - yet again - single out motorcyclists?

Do you really think that a statement like that from riders is going to make it look like riders are leading the way in the campaign against drunk driving?  Wouldn't the far more balanced approach be to state that the riders of the MCC and the CMA support a ZERO BAC for ALL who share the roadways?
What say you?

In other news, Japanese racer Yoshinari Matsushita was killed during a practise for the Isle of Man TT.

And we have riders down again...

Police in Clarenville NL are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash and in Sudbury a rider is in hospital after a driver attempted to make left hand turn in front of the motorcyclist.

My prayers go out to the family and loved ones of all involved in these three incidents.

For all of the news of the day, visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping you informed!

We have an auction we are supporting for the Heroes Highway Ride & Rally - a beautiful afghan done in a cammo look!  Check it out and bid on it!

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and by email...
I need a laugh after somber news like that.

Have a good Tuesday everyone, and remember, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor &  Rider